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May 29, 2013

so since we skipped right over spring and jumped head first into summer, i thought this would be a quick "must have" when it came to your summer beach bag! one of my favorite things to pack for is the beach, my happy place. although i may not get to go very often, when i do, i make sure i am 100% ready. HERE IS WHAT I'M PACKING:

the bag.

the mothership. if you have a good bag, you can take over the world. go for something with a few different compartments, not something that is a black hole. also, make sure the bag is safe to go in the wash, since it may develop an odor from all the salt air.

the body.

alright ladies, so we want to make sure we look as natural as possible, even if we do need a little "help" from some products - WHO CARES! these things will keep you safe from the harsh sun, all while still looking fabulous of course. SPF: for your body & lips! nobody likes wrinkles. FACIAL MIST: one easy way to keep your skin hydrated. BODY MIST: nobody likes to stink, even if you are at the beach. it's hot, we get it. SEA SALT SPRAY: is amazing for your hair! most of them smell tropical which is great, but it will enhance your hair to get that "just left the beach" look, even if you really did. i love mine.

the attire.

just because you're at the beach, does not mean you have to look like a slob. having a good attire is just as important as having the sun in the sky on this amazing beach day. COVERUP: we know it's not a fashion show, but just incase you to have to run errands after the beach, or decide to grab some food/drinks with friends - you want to make sure you are ready to rock. SANDALS: um, no excuse for old grungy ones. invest in a great pair & you will be set for a few summers. HAT: if you do want to wear a hat, do a fedora. it's not the kentucky derby. keep it simple. SUNGLASSES: nobody likes wrinkles.

oh, don't forget.

personally, i love being at the beach alone. i can be there for hours, with a book & listening to the waves. but these things to make sure you are ready for anything. first one there, last one to leave. just how i like it. COMPACT WALLET: just bring a few bucks, your license & maybe a credit card .. just incase. MUSIC: bring some earbuds incase you happen to sit next to a screaming child. NOOK/KINDLE/IPAD: i am obsessed with mine. download some great books or a gossip magazine! or if you need to, get some emails done. WATER: stay hydrated people. i keep mine in the freezer until i'm ready to leave the house!

May 27, 2013

okay ladies, so things can get a little crazy when you walk into the drug/department store in hopes of finding a new "life changing" product. well, hate to tell you - but if you do find one, you'll probably pay out the ass for it .. and odds are it'll be filled with harsh chemicals.

i recently read an article about the "alphabet of beauty" & was inspired to do my own version of it, since half of the things in the article i wasn't familiar with. it really helped me to learn new life changes i can make & to understand the products before i went into the store and was attacked by a saleswoman looking to make commission. only YOU know your skin so why not do the research before you purchase a new product. you would't go to a dealership without getting information about the car first, right? HOPE THIS HELPS :)

ABC

A: AQUA! it's no secret that you need to stay hydrated. i have a hard time drinking plain water, so i use the liquid flavors to add a little kick! plus i drink it out of a super cute hello kitty jug which helps!

B: BB CREAMS. these are beauty balms. perfect for undamaged skin. most of them contain SPF's. it's like "no makeup makeup".

C: CC CREAMS. these are complexion correctors. perfect for skin that needs a little TLC. it helps reduce redness, shrinks pores & hides fine lines .. along with some other great benefits.

DEF

D: DON'T LEAVE MAKEUP ON. this one is common sense. don't do it. a good way to keep this from happening is to leave make up remover wipes by your bed. that way, you can clean your face while lying down. PERFECT!

E: EXFOLIATE. but not too often! about once or week or so, too much can cause your skin to create excess oils & even cause breakouts.

F: FINE LINES. what every women dreads. when applying under eye products, don't rub the product, tap it into your skin instead. any extra pulling around the eyes can cause premature wrinkles.

GHI

G/H: GLOW/HIGHLIGHT. some girls love it, i personally am not a huge fan, since i have more of an oily complexion. but if you do use a highlight, use it on the upper part of your cheek bone, borderline the top of your bronzer/blush.

I: INJECTIONS. we all know about botox and juvaderm. it's obviously personal preference on what you decided to with your body. as long as you're happy, there is no right or wrong!

JKL

J: JUST BREATH. stress is a huge cause of premature wrinkles and blemishes in the skin. relax & do the things that make you happy. get rid of any negativity in your life, i promise it will be the best decision you have ever made :)

K: KICK THE OLD HABITS. there is not time like the present! if something makes you happy, continue to do it. if something makes you sad, stop having that in your life. try a new routine to switch things up! join the gym, read a good book, try a new recipe. its YOUR life.

L: LED FACIALS. it's creating a huge buzz in hollywood. it's basically a "vitamin C infused serum" that gives a glow as if you have been in the sun for a few hours. pretty much, a more "natural" tanning bed, but just for your face.

MNOP

M: MONEY. you don't need this to look beautiful. a smile is the best makeup a girl can wear, don't forget to put yours on in the morning :)

N: NATURAL. try and keep it natural when it comes to beauty products. take a minute to read the labels of your favorite products, google them & i bet you would be surprised.

O: OIL. okay so if you follow my blogs and my YouTube channel, you know i am always talking about how i have an oily complexion. normally when you are like me, you will dread adding ANY time of moisture to your skin in fear that it will make it worse. WRONG! i recently started using some new products (you will learn about them soon) and i have been LOVING them. when you body makes TOO MUCH oil, the only way to decrease this, is to ADD to it. meaning, MOISTURIZE. if you skin is already moist, your body won't create anymore. get it? got it? GOOD!

P: PRIMER. so we all wish we could look as great as the people we see in magazines. perfect skin, 6 packs, great flowing hair. WHATEVER. if you wants to help your skin look its best, start with a primer. apply this after your moisturizer, it will help hide your pores and make your foundation go on smoother, creating that "photoshop" look.

QRS

Q: QUICK ALTERNATIVES. in a rush? instead of stopping at the drive-thru, JUICE! throw anything in a juicer, and you will be amazed! natural energy and great "in-between" meals options. i am obsessed with mine. depending on the season, you can add seasoned fruits to help suppress your sweet tooth! YUMMMO!

R: RUBBING. like i said before, be careful when applying product around certain parts of your face. PAT them into your skin instead of pulling it.

S: SPF. we all know what the benefits of using SPF are, especially here in jersey. although you may think you look "great" all tan .. i promise you, you will look 10+ older than you actually are by the time you are close to 30. most makeups now actually have it mixed into their products so you can skip a step. you can thank me later.

TUVW

T: T ZONE. the T zone is basically if you drew a uppercase T onto your face, the middle of your forehead, down to your lips. this is where most people find their skin is the most oily. when applying a mask, try to keep that area in mind.

U: UV LIGHT. we all know its bad for you, but tanning can be an addiction - and i am guilty of that. in the past i was addicted. i recently bought a sunless tanning spray that i have been loving. don't believe me? check out my segment on Good Morning America.

V: VENOM. this is another fad that is quickly taking the place of surgeries. bee venom actually plumps and firms your skin. i have yet to try this, but just in case you were in the market, check out Rodial Bee Venom Eye Cream, $140.

W: WASH YOUR FACE! again, if you are too tired to do this, keep makeup remover wipes near your bed. i keep some in my purse too, just incase!

XYZ

X: E(X)ESSIVE. too much of anything is never good. let your skin breathe at night. wash your face as soon as you know you'll be in for the night. and if you can, take the weekends off from wearing any extra products. your skin will thank you in the long run.

Y: YES! say yes to trying new things. you never know. if you see or hear of a product that you want to try, do a little research so you know what you are about to put into your body (since everything you apply to your skin, WILL be digested) and if you are still interested, go for it! you might wind up with a new "must have" product in your vanity.

Z: ZZZZZ. make sure you are sleeping well. just like the rest of your body, you skin needs to rest. 7-9 hours is ideal, i feel best at around 6 but insist on getting around 9 anyways.

i hope this helped you to better understand some products that have been hitting the shelves & to learn about some new techniques to help you be the best YOU that you can be. we are all in this crazy world together, why not help each other?!

May 4, 2013

so technically we are in May, which i consider summer - but in the wonderful state of NJ, it's practically winter weather still. we are finally getting into the warmer, longer days & i have been updating my closest, as most girls should :)

i have found some really great pieces & trends that i have been loving for 2013. some are wish list times, but some are affordable on any budget! HAPPY SHOPPING!

bold prints

today i bought some great pairs of shorts that i can't wait to wear! i feel the bold printed bottoms are stylish enough that you could wear a solid tank/t shirt & would still look like a million bucks - and who doesn't want to look like a million bucks?! or you could keep a simple solid colored outfit, with a bold shoe. either way, i am loving the bright bold statement pieces!

a little something extra

so no outfit is complete without some icing on the cake! the most simplest outfit can turn heads if the accessories are done correctly. whether it's going to the beach or going to a happy hour after work, a staple accessory is something you should never leave home without!

fresh face

make up trends this year are definitely a lot more fun than last year's! neutral skin, bold lip, bright eyes & funky nails! even though i may not do a crazy lip, i have been experimenting with some fun eye colors! nails are my favorite something "extra" as you probably already know!

wish list

so every girl dreams of having some great designer pieces in her wardrobe, myself included. over the last few months i have found a few that i would die for! oh, dear santa ..

i hope this post helped you guys with some great spring ideas! try and break away from your normal attire and try something new! you never know, you might love the way you look! thanks for checking it out :)

May 1, 2013

so i have been wanting to do another video but had had ZERO time since moving & working & everything in between! i may have the 20 minutes to film, but then editing takes me a little bit since I'm still learning all the ins & outs! i thought an easy FAVORITES blog would be fun since i haven't done one in a pretty long time! HAPPY READING <3

let's chat about what i've been loving :)

CLARISONIC MIA 2 is heaven! I've had this since Valentine's Day & have been loving it ever since! i was using it pretty frequently, which worked for a little, then my skin started to react. so now i just do it about 1 time a week. so far so good!

before i use my cleanser on my face, i DO use a gentle face scrub. this helps my cleanser get down into my pores and really clean my face! i have been using this for months now & LOVE IT! its very gentle/natural and has not aggravated my skin once :)

when i do use the clarisonic, i use it with these: PURITY & the new OLAY FRESH EFFECTS: shine, shine go away. it's a thick cream face cleanser, which I'm normally not a fan of - BUT IT WORKS WONDERS FOR OILY SKIN :)

moving on to MOISTURIZER: i have always used CLINIQUE's Dramatically Different - but i felt it wasn't helping my oily skin. i heard great things about OLAY's new line, and tried this! LOVE IT! you only need 1 pump & you are ready to go! it has a powdery finish which helps a lot too! it's a great purchase ladies!

foundation/BBs: my foundation is always changing, depending on my mood of my skin & shade (depending on if i am tanning/summer). right now i have been using TRUE MATCH by L'OREAL mixed up with GARNIER'S new SHINE CONTROL BB cream. the BB cream is very matte, almost too much, but when you mix it with a dewy foundation, it's PERFECT :) so far it's been a great combo for me!

oh man this little gem! so i bought the BEAUTY BLENDER probably 3 months ago, and never used it - which i tend to do with many things. i was getting sick of my brushes so i decided to crack this baby open and give it a try. LOVING IT! it really helps apply my foundations/BBs perfectly, without leaving any hard lines!

obsessed is an understatement! THIS THING IS HEAVEN :) this will clear up any blemish you may have, in like 1 hour. my skin has a red tint, and this helps clear that up too! i have been using a full mask every night this week, just to kind of detox it. it's an amazing product!

if you follow me on IG (@GNICCCCC) you know i have a sick obsession with nail polish <3 i have tried tons of top/base coats, from every brand and NEVER LOVED ANYTHING MORE THAN THIS! this is a top AND base coat - HOW AMAZING!? definitely worth the try ladies!

okay this has nothing to do with beauty but i am OBSESSED with this. i rarely go into bath & body works, but i saw they were having a sale so i gave it a try. john & i found some great things, then i looked over and saw a limited edition LIMONCELLO collection and i FLIPPED! lemon is my favorite thing in the entire world so you know i had to have everything! i bought the chap stick, body wash & this delicious candle. all of their scents are amazing, but this is the icing on the cake for me!